A30345:128
A treatise of the covenant of grace wherein the gradual breakings out of Gospel…A treatise of the covenant of grace wherein the graduall breakings out of Gospel…
A treatise of the covenant of grace wherein the gradual breakings out of Gospel grace from Adam to Christ are clearly discovered, the differences betwixt the Old and New Testament are laid open, divers errors of Arminians and others are confuted, the nature of uprightness, and the way of Christ in bringing the soul into communion with himself ... are solidly handled / by that faithful servant of Jesus Christ, and minister of the Gospel, John Ball ; published by Simeon Ash.A treatise of the covenant of grace wherein the graduall breakings out of Gospel grace from Adam to Christ are clearly discovered, the differences betwixt the Old and New Testament are laid open, divers errours of Arminians and others are confuted, the nature of uprightnesse, and the way of Christ in bringing the soul into communion with himself ... are solidly handled / by that faithfull servant of Jesus Christ, and minister of the Gospel, John Ball ; published by Simeon Ash.
London: printed by G. Miller for Edward Brewster, 1645
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
5. His inability to believe is joined with the wilful refusal of mercy promised and voluntary pursuit of some inferior good, as more to be desired then Gods favour. But of this more in the next degrees of the Covenant.
5. His inability to beleeve is joyned with the wilfull refusall of mercy promised and voluntary pursute of some inferiour good, as more to be desired then Gods favour. But of this more in the next degrees of the Covenant.
Under this Covenant outwardly administered, were comprehended both Adam and his posterity, even so many as he should dedicate unto God, or should accept of the Covenant, until by wilful departure from the faith and worship of God they discovenanted themselves, and their posterity. As the Covenant was after made with Abraham and his seed, and is now made with believing Parents for themselves and their children after them: so was it with Adam, and those that should descend from his loins.
Under this Covenant outwardly administred, were comprehended both Adam and his posterity, even so many as he should dedicate unto God, or should accept of the Covenant, untill by wilfull departure from the faith and worship of God they discovenanted themselves, and their posterity. As the Covenant was after made with Abraham and his seed, and is now made with beleeving Parents for themselves and their children after them: so was it with Adam, and those that should descend from his loynes.
They that lived under this administration of the Covenant did offer sacrifice unto God by divine institution and appointment, as is manifest in the example of Abel and Noah. We read not1 indeed, that God gave any Commandment touching burnt offerings or sacrifices: but without question what they did, was done by divine prescription. What a faithful servant doth on earth, which he cannot do but by command and appointment of his Master, for that, if he do it, we presume he hath the Commandment of his Master, although he do not say so. But Abel and Noah faithful Servants of God, offered sacrifice, which they could not well do, but by the Commandment of God: therefore they were so commanded, though so much be not expressed. All Ceremonies which signify grace are ordained of God, or they be unlawful. But the Sacrifices were Ceremonies which signified grace. It is written of Abel, that by faith he offered a better sacrifice then Cain, and that God had respect unto Abel and his sacrifice: Of the sacrifice of Noah it is said, that God smelled a savour of rest: but in faith the sacrifice could not have been offered, if it had not been prescribed: it should not have been accepted, if it had not carried the stamp of God. For those Sacrifices were the types of Christ, and seals of propitiation and remission of sins in and through the blood of Jesus: which must be prescribed, or they cannot be accepted. These Sacrifices then were instituted of